A 4-week Study Investigating Two Targeted Brightening Serum (A and B) Versus 4% Hydroquinone in Women With Mild to Severe Full-face Hyperpigmentation

Inclusion Criteria:

• In good general health (physical, mental, and social well-being, not merely the absence of disease/infirmity), according to subject self-report.
• Having Fitzpatrick skin type I-VI (refer to Appendix I: Fitzpatrick Skin Type)
• Age 20 to 60 years.
• Subjects with self-perceived hyperpigmented facial skin
• Having mild to severe (score of 3-9 according to a modified Griffiths scale,2 where 0 = none, 1 to 3 = mild, 4 to 6 = moderate, 7 to 9 = severe) full-face hyperpigmentation, including melasma. Hyperpigmentation and melasma must present at equal severity and size on each facial side.
• Willing to maintain visit 1/baseline condition of eyebrows and eyelashes (do not noticeably change brow/lash appearance) during the study.
• Willing to provide written informed consent and able to read, speak, write, and understand English.
• Willing to sign a photography release.
• Having not had any facial treatments in the past 6 months and are willing to withhold all facial treatments during the course of the study including facials, facial peels, photo facials, laser treatments, dermabrasion, botulinum toxin (Botox®), injectable filler treatments, intense pulsed light (IPL), acid treatments, tightening treatments, facial plastic surgery, or any other treatment administered by a physician or skin care professional designed to improve the appearance or firmness of facial skin. Waxing and threading are allowed but not facial laser hair removal.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Having been diagnosed with known allergies to skin care products.
• Having a known reactivity to tranexamic acid, niacinamide, sunflower seed, coconut, rosemary, barley, goji, sandalwood, licorice root, radish root, beeswax, yeast, ascorbic acid, tetrahexyldecyl ascorbate, and/or any of the ingredients in the study products.
• Breastfeeding, pregnant, or planning to become pregnant during the study according to subject self-report.
• Having a history of skin cancer within the past 5 years.
• Currently taking oral or topical prescription medications for melasma such as Triluma, compounded hydroquinone, retinoids, and tranexamic acid.
• Currently using oral or topical prescription medications for acne such as doxycycline, minocycline, clindamycin, bactrim, tetracycline, erythromycin, vibramycin, azelaic acid, benzoyl peroxide, Dapsone, or sodium sulfacetamide.